Office



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. B. MILLER.

Y FARM GATE.

No. 286,053. Patented ont. 2, 1,883.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. B. MILLER.

FARM GATE.

No. 286,053. Patented Oct. 2, 1883.

ufemor.

of grooves rrnn kSTATES Pl-rrnNrv Fries.

FARM- GATE.

srnarrrcnrroivforming para of Letters Patent No. 286,053, dat-ee octobera, 188s.

Application filed June '7, 1883. (No model.)

.To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, WILsoN B. MILLER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county ofMarion and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Farm-Gates, 0f which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to swinging farmgates in which the hinge end ismounted upon a bottom pivot-piu between two posts, and the swing orlatch end suspended by diagonal wires from the tops of the said posts toeffect the self-closing of thc gate, and the particular point ofimprovement consists of a -perforated Ishaped iron piece for thesuspension-wires, combined with the'slotted top bar ofthe gate, saidslot being formed longitudinally in said bar, and the said iron piecebeing perforated at both ends to receive the separate suspension-wires,whereby to take up the sag of the gate by adjusting' the iron piecewithin the slot as may be required. `The cross-bar at the top of thesupporting` posts, which braces said posts and forms the bearing for thesuspensionwires, is formed on its outerside with a series or notches inwhich the separate suspending-wires are adjusted to equalize the draw onthe gate and cause it to close itself with more or less force.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents an elevationof a gate embodying my invention; Fig. 2, an elevation of the gate inVits open position, Fig'. 3, a top view ofthe gate as closed; Fig. 4, across-section of the top slotted bar, showing the I- shaped perforatediron piece for the separate suspensioirwires; and Fig. 5 shows atop'viewof the wires crossing each other over the notched top bar of the posts,and Fig. 6 shows the latch-lock. p

The gate is made of the usual or any appropriate construction, havingthe longitudinal bars a, connected by vertical posts b b, and diagonalbracesa, and is mounted and swung upon a bottom pivotpin, c, betweenposts B B, placed diagonally to each other in relation to the line ofthegate when closed, and between which the pivot end of the gate issupported.

C is the latch-post, having the catches l) for the latch. The separatesuspension-wires d d pass around a cross-brace, F, at the top of theposts B B, thence down on each side of the .the latch fits when saidhinged piece is gate, and are secured at the bottom thereof to a metalplate, c, pivoted on each side of the gate. Thesewires are preferablydouble on each side ofthe gate, and pass from the pivotplate e throughperforationst c' in the project 'ing `ends of a fulcrum iron piece, G,seated and confined by end arms, g g, in aslot, H, in the top rail, at,of the gate, and are secured in 6o notches n around the diagonal brace Fat the top of the posts B B. This diagonal end brace, F, is securedagainst the sides ofthe posts, and in the notches a on its rear side thewires are adjusted to change the angle ofthe suspensionfwires with,reference to'the line of the gate, and thereby cause the saine to closeautomatically. The perforated I-shapcd piece or fulcrum G is arranged tobe set in the slot H, formed through the top railof the gate and 7oextending in a longitudinal direction therewith. The object of thismetal piece G is to take up the sag in the gate consequent upon thesettling of the posts and lengthening of the wires. This is accomplishedby moving 7 5 said piece G forward in the slot, whereby the wires arecaused to make a sharper angle, and thereby raise the swinging end ofthe gate and hold itin position free of the ground. The arms of thepiece G hold it endwise within 8o the slot at top and bottom, and thewires are confined within its perforations.

I is the latch, pivoted near its lower end, and connected to thepivot-plate c by a rod or short wire, m, in such manner that the pulling8 5 action of the suspension-wires in opening the gate will tend to keepthe latch always -in position to be closed. At the top of the gate,adjacent to the handle of the latch, is arranged a lock-block, J, hingedto the top of bar b, and 9o fitting into a recess, s, formed in the toprail, as shown in Fig. 2, to lock the latch when the gate is closed. Atthe front portion of this hinged piece J is formed a slot, s', intowhich down 95 in position to lock the latch. y

On the inner side of the gate, at its bottom portion, is arranged aprop, L, pivoted to one of the lower bars of the gate,which prop, whenbrought down in position with its end against ico the ground,will holdthe gate in its open position, as shown in Fig. 2. In the example showntwo-separate wires on each side of the gate are employed, and arepreferable; but a single wire may be used. It is important to noticethat in using two separate and distinct wires they cross each other inextending above the gate and around the top notched bar, as shown inFig. 5, and that they so pass and are confined in separate notches, andthat the strain upon the wires is resisted by the firm and solidposition of the cross-bar against the rear sides of the posts. Thisarrangement of the wires equalizes the draw on the gate as it is opened,and equalizes the strain upon the wires. The forni of the iron pieceG,with the perforations in each end, adapts it to be eonned within theslot without fastenings, and to receive the wires.

I have stated that the diagonal brace F is secured against the sides ofthe posts, and it will be understood that the said brace-bar is bar,

' Iin a cleat, b',

.of the posts above the seats.

' the top of the gate,

placed against the posts next tothe fence, andk that the tops of theposts are cut away diagonally to form shoulders or seats for thebraceandthe latter is nailed down upon said tothe cut-awaysides at the topvpartIn other words, the tops of the posts are notched obliquely to receivethe oblique brace-bar, so that the strain upon the latter is supporteddirectly by the posts. Referring to the vertical bars b b of the gate,it will be seen that they, like the braces, are secured on each side ofthe longitudinal bars a, and that' the pivot I of the latch I is securedand to the end of the longitudinal bar, through which said pivot alsopasses. The slot s for the upper end of the latch I, at h is formedbetween the top rail and a cleat, s, fastened to the latch side of thegate, to the top of the front bar b and seats and the brace a', and tothe end of the top rail, and the recess sfor the lhinged block .I isformed in the top edges of this cleat s3 and the upper rail, a2, so thatthe hinged locking-block .Its i into this recess over the slot.

I claiml. In a swinging gate pivoted at its lower inner end, thecombination, with the top rail, a?, of the gate, having the slot H,ofthe perforat ed I-shaped piece, G, itted wit-hin and adapted to beadjusted in said slot, and thel suspension wire or wires secured to thebottonrfront end of the gate, and passing through the perforations insaid piece, and around a diagonal bar, F, at the top of the posts,having notches a, as and'forthe purpose set forth.

2.V The combination, in a swinging gate pivoted at its lower inner end,of the posts B B, connected at the top bythe cross-bar F, having notchesa on its rear side, with the gate having its top bar formed with theslot H, the perforated I-shaped piece G, the suspensionwires d d, thepivoted plates e, and the latch, all constructed and arranged as shownand described. h

3. In a swinging gate, the eon'lbination,with the top rail of the gate,having a recess, s, at its top front end, of the lock-block to the toprail, having a slotted end and fitting within the recess in the rail,and the latch I, as and for the purpose set forth In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

f VILSON B. MILLER.

Vitnesses AURELrUs l?. Pook,

XVHEELER Wisos.

J, hinged

